If Hardcase feels so generous, that is his call, re expressions of "pity". For myself, the following comes to mind. They so willingly took the king's shilling.

I am probably generous to a fault. Nonetheless, while the scapegoats do deserve heat, but they're going to end up with much more than they deserve, while, as usual, the real culprits will probably walk off scot-free.

__________________Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae